Hospice Care for Veterans

VITAS honors those who served America by serving them near the end of life. VITAS offers hospice care to veterans with a wide range of terminal conditions; our teams of experienced hospice professionals are trained to understand the veteran’s unique needs at the end of life.

Call 866.791.2229 to speak with us about veteran care

According to the US Census Bureau, we have an estimated 22 million veterans living among us in the United States. Veterans make up one-fourth of all deaths today; that’s 617,000 per year.

By recognizing the unique needs of veterans coping with life-limiting illness, VITAS is able to guide these men and women toward a more peaceful ending. This is especially important for veterans who experienced combat service or other trauma, because experiences from the past often resurface near the end of life.

We Honor Veterans Participation

Many VITAS hospice locations work in cooperation with We Honor Veterans, a pioneering program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) focused on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening and grateful acknowledgment of veterans.

Veterans Benefits

VITAS end-of-life care experts are trained to support the difficult circumstances faced by some veterans near the end of life, including financial and benefit concerns, post-traumatic stress disorder, unresolved issues associated with the stresses of military service, depression and suicide. Veterans can be referred to VITAS from the VA or by community-based healthcare providers, or they can contact us directly to discuss VITAS services.

Other key features of VITAS services for veterans include:

A streamlined referral and admission process

Familiarity with the VA system and how to identify and access benefit options for veterans

Coverage of hospice care for veterans by the VA, TRICARE, Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and other forms of reimbursement

Coordination of care with the staff of the local VA medical center, including joint visits when appropriate

VITAS veteran liaisons, who in many VITAS locations function as communications contacts and primary educational resources to the VA and local veterans organizations

Referrals for additional community services as needed

A full range of bereavement support, including grief and loss programs, support groups and memorial services for veterans’ loved ones

Recognition and celebration of important events, including holidays such as Veteran’s Day and military anniversaries